Google Kubernetes Engine 1.21 · Version Status
Google Kubernetes Engine 1.21 End of Life Date
Google Kubernetes Engine 1.21 end-of-life date, support status, and CVE risk. Data from endoflife.date and official vendor documentation.
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Google Kubernetes Engine 1.21 is past end of life. This version no longer receives security patches. 1194 days past EOL — migrate to a supported version immediately.
EOL Date
Jan 31, 2023
1194 days past EOL
Latest Release
1.21.14-gke.18800
Standard release
Release Date
Oct 1, 2021
Google Kubernetes Engine 1.21 series
All Google Kubernetes Engine Versions
| Version | Latest | EOL Date | Status |
|---|
| 1.17 |
1.17.17-gke.9100 |
Nov 1, 2021 |
EOL |
| 1.18 |
1.18.20-gke.6000 |
Mar 1, 2022 |
EOL |
| 1.19 |
1.19.16-gke.15700 |
Jun 1, 2022 |
EOL |
| 1.20 |
1.20.15-gke.13700 |
Aug 1, 2022 |
EOL |
| → 1.21 |
1.21.14-gke.18800 |
Jan 31, 2023 |
EOL |
| 1.22 |
1.22.17-gke.14100 |
Apr 30, 2023 |
EOL |
| 1.23 |
1.23.17-gke.10700 |
Jul 31, 2023 |
EOL |
| 1.24 |
1.24.17-gke.2472000 |
Oct 31, 2023 |
EOL |
What does Google Kubernetes Engine 1.21 end of life mean?
When Google Kubernetes Engine 1.21 reaches end of life, the maintainers stop issuing security patches for this version. CVEs discovered after the EOL date are publicly disclosed on the National Vulnerability Database with no patch available. Exploit code frequently appears on GitHub within days of disclosure.
The CVE blind spot: Most vulnerability scanners check for known CVEs but do not flag the ongoing accumulation of unpatched vulnerabilities in EOL software versions. Running Google Kubernetes Engine 1.21 past its EOL date creates a permanently growing attack surface that standard security tooling will not surface.
Migrate to Google Kubernetes Engine 1.35 or implement compensating controls — network segmentation, enhanced monitoring, restricted access — while migration is underway.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Google Kubernetes Engine 1.21 reach end of life?
Google Kubernetes Engine 1.21 reached end of life on January 31, 2023. This version is no longer receiving security patches.
Is Google Kubernetes Engine 1.21 still supported?
No. Google Kubernetes Engine 1.21 reached end of life on January 31, 2023 and is no longer receiving security patches.
What should I upgrade to from Google Kubernetes Engine 1.21?
The recommended upgrade from Google Kubernetes Engine 1.21 is
Google Kubernetes Engine 1.35 — the latest actively supported version. Check the
Google Kubernetes Engine full timeline for all supported versions.
What are the security risks of running Google Kubernetes Engine 1.21 past EOL?
When Google Kubernetes Engine 1.21 reaches end of life, the maintainers stop issuing security patches. Any CVEs disclosed after the EOL date accumulate with no remediation path. Most vulnerability scanners do not flag this — it is the CVE blind spot. Organizations running EOL Google Kubernetes Engine should migrate immediately or implement compensating controls.